Sword Play

Katie and Christian love to imagine and play together. I don't remember exactly what they were doing, it had to do with Star Wars I am sure. I just started cracking up at them when I looked at the series, so I thought I would share. Like it or not. :)

Secret Valentine....

Okay, so I know I am going back in time here, but I thought I better start catching up, or else it will be even worse....so without further ado...

The Monday night before Valentine's as I was putting the kids to bed we heard the doorbell ring, which is very unusual at that time of night. The kids have (finally) learned not to open the door without permission (at least I think they have). So they ran to the door from their bedrooms and waited while peeking out the blinds. Then squeals were released as they saw a plate of cookies and this note sitting in front of our door.

Really, how cool is that? We were, needless to say, a little excited. Katie got it right away that there would be something each night and could hardly stand it when I told them it was time for bed each night. It was an exercise in futility really...but I tried. The next night they kept on wanting to go wait at the window, which of course was exactly the opposite of what was instructed. I finally convinced them that they didn't want to spoil the surprise...and what a surprise they got. Look at those balloons! They "shared" ownership of the monkey balloon. For weeks these balloons would turn up in different corners of the house. Katie and Christian just loved it, even if Christian is trying to be cool about the whole thing the pictures.

The next night they actually got in bed and Christian fell asleep. Katie was almost there when the doorbell rang. Flying out of her room and down the hall, she was determined to catch them. But these were professionals I tell you. You can hear a car door close outside from any of our five immediate neighbors with our windows closed. I have, many times, met a friend at the front door because the car door closing was my doorbell. We never heard the car door close...sneaky... We got candy and straws, toys and a cute shirt for Katie. I won't tell you how many times she wore it that week.... :)
The next night we got these beautiful flowers. Look at that beautiful Daisy! At this point we were determined to give back. I started making my homemade bread and had it timed that it would be ready on the doorstep at the next "regular" drop time. But they had our number, or at least they had a different plan. That night the kids were a little miffed because it was a date night kit for Mike and I. How awesome is that? We shared later though, so the bitterness did not last. This is a fantastic and fun idea.

The next day we were ready with the bread. We would put it out earlier, just in case. But they surprised us one last time with heart shaped blueberry muffins for BREAKFAST. We were foiled again with our idea of giving back a little. However, that did not keep us from devouring the muffins like little piggies.

I have not a clue who did this for us, but I can tell you that my heart was so touched that we were chosen. Thank you for your kindness and making my kids and Mike and I feel so special. I guess we will just have to pay it forward next year. We LOVE you!

Mike was also so thoughtful and sent me beautiful roses. They were so gorgeous. Look at these flowers. We went to dinner for the first time on Valentine's day. We usually go another night to avoid the madness, but we got out to one of our favorite restaurants and had so much fun just talking the night away.

Before we went our date with each other however, we had our dates with the kids. The kids just love the one-on-one time that they get from us. Katie was dying to go roller blading at Skateland (she had a pass for one free from her teacher...I won't tell you how long we had it before we used it...). So I took my roller blades and she rented a pair and we skated until she was worn out. We had a lot of fun. Look at that smile! We headed for Dairy Queen where she got a treat and shared a bite with me. Usually I get something too, but I was going out with Mike and was saving my appetite...

Christian and Dad stayed home to do what Christian wanted to do most...play Lego Star Wars on the Wii. They got Slurpee's and hung out like dudes do. It was heaven for Christian and Mike had fun too.

It was a fabulous week from start to finish. I have never been to hot on the whole Valentine's thing, but I love thie family who has helped me see that we can focus on the love for those who are around us instead.

The Steelers Bandwagon

Mike has been a Steelers fan since his youth. His love for the Steelers began when he hopped on the bandwagon at 10 years old and saw the Steelers win a Superbowl and he never got off. Most of his life he has lived away from a place that has had an NFL team close by. Even through the drought of losses, he loved them. He is a Cubs fan...so he is used to losing. He wore his Steelers Jersey to work in downtown Phoenix on Friday and was attacked by one of the ladies in the office. He said it was unprovoked...he didn't say anything. But he had taunted them the day before and then showed up in his Bettis Jersey. What did he expect in the middle of Cardinal Territory?

Saturday night as we are talking with the kids, Christian informed us that the Steelers team was weak and he was routing for the Cardinals. Apparently, Mike had been schooling people at work, but forgot to teach his own kid. (We don't actually watch much football on Sunday as it is usually used for family time. So, we were at a disadvantage.) Even with all of the evidence to the contrary of who was historically the better team, Christian could not be dissuaded from the playground rhetoric. He was routing for the Cardinals and we would be sorry. I complimented him on his conviction.

Today on our way home from Church, he was still all about the Cardinals. Once again, I complimented him. As his Cardinals were going down, then back up, then a final closing touchdown made, I let him know that it would be alright if he decided that the Steelers were his team instead. It would lead to a lot of years of fun football watching with his dad, cheering for the same team. He took the invitation. He bolted for the other side. Hopefully his little hiney is securely on the Steelers Bandwagon.

Yay Steelers!

Clink!

Now some may find this a very small thing, but last night was a glorious night for me. Christian's handwriting has made a turn for the better! Up until this point his handwriting has been very close to illegible, much to the chagrin of his teacher whose goal this year to have all of her students have good handwriting. Christian never cared how he held his pencil, never pressed carefully, it was a matter of getting the assignment done and maybe not even that. It has been a struggle of his over the years. His fine motor skills are not great, and I think his hand writing is a bit hereditary if you have ever seen mine. Now it is not perfect, but look at this pencil hold...

And look at the words. What...you don't see it? The letters sit on the baseline, they are not floating in the air. They have the right shape, and trust me on this, were formed slowly and mostly correctly. This is nothing short of a miracle.

I am a great mother...and didn't hold back my dumbfounded amazement at the neatness of his handwriting. He smiled and giggled. When he was finished I held him on my lap and asked how this came about. Did his teacher say something that helped him? No. Did I say something? No. (Trust me, we have been working hard saying all sorts of things) Well, what did it then?

"Well, one night dad told Katie to slow down while she was writing so that her handwriting would be neater... (Pause) and I thought that if it would help her, then maybe it would help me to have neater handwriting." Hallelujah, something clicked. It is like hearing the metal clink into place inside the brain. When it clicks it clicks. You can try to hurry it all you want, but it happens on its own time.

Clink!

Ice Skating

Oh, what do you do in the winter time in Arizona? Go ice skating, of course. We have to pretend to need warm clothes and justify it somehow. Katie had a girl scout activity to go ice skating. It sounded like a fabulous idea so Christian and I tagged along. We haven't gone since we were in Idaho, partly because I didn't even know this rink existed, and so close to our house too. Did you know that they now of blue plastic ice skates to rent? I think it is cheaper to buy and has less chance of passing along athlete's foot, but they are definitely NOT comfortable. But it was still worth going.

The last time we went in Idaho Christian was 3 1/2 at the most. It was a futile effort as he couldn't stay up at all and we were trying to drag him as we went. This time, as soon as he got his skates on he got on the ice without even letting me know. The nerve! I think he was determined to not have any help from M-O-M. He clung to that wall like his new best friend. I passed him several times and he proudly told me that he had only fallen once. I showed him some basic movements to help him glide on the ice (which is ALL I know) and he went off the side and never went back. When he fell and I tried to pick him up he declared, "I don't need help mom, let me go." Well, alrighty then Mr. Independent. So I didn't, the rest of the time, which he loved.

Balance....balance....

Katie was off of the wall pretty fast. She remembered our last time ice skating and felt like she had the upper hand, even though she had had a very rough time of it when she was 5 1/2. Somehow she remembered all that was good about it. The brownies from her troop pretty much stayed together the entire time talking and giggling and supporting one another. Some of the girls were terrified of letting go of the sides at first and they helped by taking their hands and holding them as they went around and around and around. I think that all of our feet hurt pretty well after we got the skates off, but it was a lot of fun.

Faces of like this, make it all worth it!

Usery Mountain Pass

A couple of my friends have talked about the different County Parks around here and I figured it was time to start visiting! We got some snacks, filled up our camelpaks, loaded the kids in the car and headed off to Usery Mountain Regional Park just north of Mesa. We did an easy hike for the kids that had some climbing, but I was pretty sure I wouldn't hear whining about it. I am trying to toughen them up slowly and less painfully. They were excited. I love their hiking shadows in this picture. This was right at the beginning. Katie kept asking why I was taking so many pictures and would I just put it away. Christian felt like it was slowing us down. There may be a little truth to that. But I am not admitting anything.
Here we are at the top of the first peak of the little ridge we were hiking. Don't you like Christian's pose. He had to do this whenever we stopped to do a group picture. He is a rugged Mountain Man in the making.

The valley has received a lot of rain this winter (at least for here...I think). Christian is pointing out the moss that we found on the rocks.

There was this fantastic Arizona Barrel Cactus that twisted as it grew. I would love to see this when it is blossoming in the spring. They get these great flowers on the top of it. Did you know that cactus get flowers? I didn't until I moved here.

I loved this rock formation that was so unlike the rest of it around it.

There was this amazing Saguaro (Sa-wa-row) Cactus. How does this thing stay up? Did you know that it takes 60-75 years for a Saguaro to start getting one of the arms and can live over 300 years? Although I do not think that the arm thing applies to this one, remember that for some of the other pictures. It is amazing.

Here Mike and Katie are walking past a huge Ocotillo. They are VERY prickly but get leaves all over them during wet periods and they fall off during times of drought. During April they get fantastic blossoms also. I am going to try to get a really good picture of these beautiful desert flowers this year.

Here we are at our second pinnacle with the Mountain we intend to climb next time we go. We aren't going to tell the kids how long it is, but take better food with us to make it worth it. Notice, Christian still has to have his stance. Katie is all girl.

This is the path the leads around the hills that we hiked back to our car. Isn't the desert beautiful? It is so different from the lush trees that I grew up with, but it has its own beauty that is quite amazing. Those tree like cacti are Teddy Bear Cholla. You wouldn't want to meet up with this thing in a dark alley, but they are fun to look at.

Here it is up close and personal. Aren't they fabulous in the sun. I don't think I would want this one in my yard. I have enough prickly plants already. Beautiful, but painful to take care of.
See the great Saguaro? No, not my husband, he is not 60 and already has arms, so you can rule him out. It was a fun day that we really enjoyed. I look forward to going back soon. Or to another park...

PS...I got all my information about the plants from the picture I took of the plaque about "Sonoran Desert Plants" at the park. Our day use fees at work for the public!